noun · 4 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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CMU ARPABET:IH2 N T ER0 S EH1 SH AH0 N
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
CMU ARPABET 2:IH2 N ER0 S EH1 SH AH0 N
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
noun
Meaning 1
The act of intervening or mediating between two parties.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
noun
Meaning 2
A prayer to God on behalf of another person; especially, such a prayer offered by a heavenly saint on behalf of a mere mortal who has prayed to the saint for such help.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
noun
Meaning 3
the act of intervening (as to mediate a dispute, etc.)
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: prayer, petition, orison
History
Etymology
First attested in the early 15th Century. From Middle French intercession, from Old French intercession, from Latin intercessiō, from intercēdō, from inter- (“between”) + cēdō (“to go”) (English cede), literally “go-between”.
Across languages
Translations
34 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Arabic:
وَسَاطَة
(wasāṭa)
— the act of intervening
Bulgarian:
застъпничество
(zastǎpničestvo)
— the act of intervening
Bulgarian:
ходатайство
(hodatajstvo)
— the act of intervening
Danish:
formidling
— the act of intervening
Danish:
mellemkomst
— the act of intervening
Dutch:
voorspraak
— the act of intervening
French:
intercession
— the act of intervening
Hungarian:
közbenjárás
— the act of intervening
Icelandic:
meðalganga
— the act of intervening
Ido:
interceso
— the act of intervening
Polish:
wstawiennictwo
— the act of intervening
Polish:
interwencja
— the act of intervening
Portuguese:
intercessão
— the act of intervening
Russian:
посре́дничество
(posrédničestvo)
— the act of intervening
Serbo-Croatian:
zagovor
— the act of intervening
Serbo-Croatian:
за̏гово̄р
— the act of intervening
Arabic:
شَفَاعَة
(šafāʕa)
— a prayer to God on behalf of another person
Catalan:
intercessió
— a prayer to God on behalf of another person
Chinese Mandarin:
代禱 /代祷
(dàidǎo)
— a prayer to God on behalf of another person
Danish:
forbøn
— a prayer to God on behalf of another person
French:
intercession
— a prayer to God on behalf of another person
Georgian:
ქომაგობა
(komagoba)
— a prayer to God on behalf of another person
German:
Fürbitte
— a prayer to God on behalf of another person
German:
Fürsprache
— a prayer to God on behalf of another person
Icelandic:
fyrirbæn
— a prayer to God on behalf of another person
Icelandic:
bænarstaður
— a prayer to God on behalf of another person
Irish:
idirghuí
— a prayer to God on behalf of another person
Italian:
intercessione
— a prayer to God on behalf of another person
Persian:
شفاعت
(šafâ'at)
— a prayer to God on behalf of another person
Polish:
modlitwa wstawiennicza
— a prayer to God on behalf of another person
Portuguese:
intercessão
— a prayer to God on behalf of another person
Spanish:
intercesión
— a prayer to God on behalf of another person
Swedish:
förbön
— a prayer to God on behalf of another person
Ukrainian:
заступництво
(zastupnyctvo)
— a prayer to God on behalf of another person
